Continental Envisions Delivery Robots And Autonomous Shuttles

Continental has arrived at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show to explore how a self-driving shuttle could be used in order to deploy delivery robots, which in turn can bring packages directly to consumers.

The shuttle is called the Continental Urban Mobility Experience (CUbE) and it’s meant for a market in which the need to transport goods will outpace the growing need for people transport in densely populated areas.

“With the help of robot delivery, Continental’s vision for seamless mobility can extend right to your doorstep. Our vision of cascaded robot delivery leverages a driverless vehicle to carry delivery robots, creating an efficient transport team,” stated Continental’s systems & tech boss, Ralph Lauxmann. “Both are electrified, both are autonomous and, in principle, both can be based on the same scalable technology portfolio.”

Man’s best robot friend

According to Continental, goods and parcel delivery to residential areas is a growing market, which means that delivery cost per hour is becoming an even more important metric. The company is therefore viewing goods delivery as an integral part of future urban mobility, which is why the CUbE can carry multiple delivery robots, to be deployed for the last yards of the goods and parcel delivery logistics chain.

“The challenges to a delivery robot parallel what we already solve for in automated vehicles,” said Continental exec Jeremy McClain. “Plus, delivery robots will require technology that is just as advanced and robust as our automotive solutions.”

In the end, considering how many deliveries are made during daytime, when most people are at work or school, having an autonomous shuttle team up with delivery robots during off-peak hours could be a very efficient solution.